Lives in Cricket No 43 - John Jackson

20 Early Career, Marriage and Family Eleven. We have seen how the All-England Eleven split up into the AEE and the UAEE, with the AEE being composed primarily of the northern professionals and the UAEE mostly of players from the south. Whilst William Clarke was still alive he remained an obstacle to any meeting of the two Elevens even though there would have been great public interest in seeing a clash between the leading professional teams of the day. All this changed after Clarke died on 25 August 1856. Early in the following year it was suggested by friends of Jimmy Dean, a founder member of the UAEE and a ground bowler at Lord’s who had been playing before the public for twenty years, that he should be granted a benefit match to be played at Lord’s between the two great Elevens. A challenge was sent to George Parr, captain of the AEE, who accepted with one stipulation – that some of the proceeds should go to the Cricketers Fund Friendly Society which had been set up to offer help to former cricketers who had fallen upon hard times. Sad to relate, this is exactly what happened to John Jackson in later life. Parr’s proposal was accepted and the first match was arranged for Lord’s, beginning on Whit Monday, 1 June 1857. It was the start of an epic series of matches. A crowd estimated at 10,000 was present on the first day, including members of the nobility, and they witnessed John Jackson carry all before him in taking six wickets for 31 in 25.3 overs. He bowled out three of the top five UAEE batsmen, James Dean, William Caffyn and John Wisden. The UAEE total was 143 and the AEE replied with 206, George Parr making 56 and Heathfield Stephenson 51. The lead was 63 and the UAEE were bowled out in their second innings for 140 (Jackson two for 54 off 35 overs). The AEE made the 78 runs they needed for the loss of five wickets. On 27 July the two teams met again at Lord’s, playing this time for the benefit of Jimmy Dean who received the gratifying sum of upwards of £400. In this match Wisden and Caffyn dismissed the AEE for 99 (George Parr 48). The UAEE replied with 126, Jackson taking three for 48 in 45 overs. Steady batting took the AEE to 214 with Diver (46), Parr (36) and R.C.Tinley (46) all making substantial contributions. The UAEE needed 188 to win but collapsed to 54 all out, leaving the AEE winners by 133 runs. The main destroyer for the AEE in this match was Edgar Willsher who took ten wickets in the match. Jackson’s part in UAEE’s second innings debacle was two for 22 in 28 overs. At a small ceremony held after the AEE match against Richmond, North Yorkshire later in the season, George Parr’s fine batting in these two matches in which he had made 56*, 19*, 48 and 36 was honoured by the presentation of a gold watch. 1857 was the year in which Jackson made his first appearance in the famous Lord’s fixture, Gentlemen v Players, on 13 and 14 July. It was played in a heat wave and Jackson was, for once, used sparingly, bowling 8.1 overs in the first innings and 9 in the second, and taking the wickets of V.E.Walker and W.Nicholson, both bowled. In a close and interesting game the Players won by 13 runs. For the Gentlemen R.Hankey scored 70 and A.Haygarth 57 in their first innings total of 194 which conceded a lead of 5 runs to the Players. In the second innings the Players were dismissed